THE principal author of Republic Act 10354, of the Reproductive Health Law enacted in 2012, said the cut in the government budget for the procurement of family planning commodities effectively violates and impairs the law.
Former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the “improvident and tragic” slash of P1 billion from the original appropriation of P1.157 billion for “Modern and Natural Family Planning Supplies” violated and impaired the law.
Lagman said certain provisions of the law “are indubitable directives for the Congress to appropriate the requisite and adequate amounts for family planning supplies. Unfortunately, these statutory authorizations have been eroded by the Congress, more particularly the Senate, when the P1- billion cut was accorded congressional approval,” he said.
“I place the onus of culpability for the unforgivable cut on Senator Tito Sotto as the principal proponent of the gross reduction and on Senator Loren Legarda as Chairman of the Senate bicameral panel, who until now vainly justifies the slash,” he said.
Lagman reacted to the cut of the original budget of P1.157 billion by P1 billion or 86 percent, saying the balance of P157 million was inadequate to address the contraceptive needs of the poor women.
The other expense items in the appropriations for Family Health and Responsible Parenthood do not pertain to contraceptives, he said.
“Both Sotto and Legarda know that integral to the RH Law is the provision for family planning
supplies,” Lagman said.
“Such rationalization is contrived alibi and is not anchored in the deliberations of the bicameral conference,” he said.
Former health secretary and Purple Ribbon for RH (PR4RH) Movement lead convenor Dr. Esperanza Cabral called on the members of the bicameral committee to account for the RH budget cut.
“How could a few legislator-members of the bicam committee effect a major change in the national budget?” she asked.
“May 9 will soon to be upon us. Do not vote and campaign for others not to vote for those who continue to subvert your reproductive rights. Vote instead for those who support your aspirations for good family life and act accordingly whether they are in Congress or in the national or local government.”
Another former health secretary, Dr. Enrique Ona, said the budget cut is very alarming.
“It is very worrying. That is why the public and other supporters of RH law must stay vigilant,” he noted.